Nigeria ‘s Northern Guinea Savanna soils are continually and intensively cultivated, resulting in deterioration of soil quality, depletion of carbon reserves, increased soil erosion and depletion of soil nutrients. Concerning the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable crop production, the effects of land use change on soil carbon stocks (SOC) are of concern, as there is a need for food sufficiency while preserving the environment. Globally, in the light of international policy agendas on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable crop production, the effects of land use change on soil carbon stocks (SOC) are of concern because there is a dare to provide adequate food for the growing world population while maintaining the environment. “Therefore, this study:” Tillage Inquiry, Desmodium intortum, 1) Maize + Desmodium + Traditional tillage (MC), 2) Maize + Desmodium live-mulch integrated and relayed + Conservation tillage (MDIC), 3) Maize + Desmodium in no-tillage (MDNT), 4) Maize + Desmodium in strip tillage (MDST) were hybrid therapies. The key treatment plots were each divided into sub-plots to accommodate four (4) N rates (60, 80, 100 and 120 kg·ha-1), while the N rate plots were further divided into sub-plots to accommodate three ( 3) P rates (6.6, 13.2, and 26.4 kg·ha-1). Findings support that Desmodium intercrops with treatments for maize (MDIC, MDNT, and MDST) resulted in a rise in organic carbon content in 2013, with MDNT resulting in a slightly higher organic carbon content than other treatments (7.37 g·kg−1 in 2012 and 8.37 g·kg−1 in 2013). Zero tillage practise (MDNT) also sequestered substantially higher stocks of carbon (18.06 t C ha-1), followed by minimal tillage (MDIC) sequestering 15.99 t C ha-1 than the other treatments. Zero tillage practise (MDNT) also sequestered substantially higher stocks of carbon (18.06 t C ha-1), followed by minimal tillage (MDIC) sequestering 15.99 t C ha-1 than the other treatments. MDST was followed by the maximum grain yield of 2.61 tha-1 under MDIC and MDNT and the least under MC. The minimum score of 13 under MDIC and MDNT was provided by the total soil quality assessment score; thus, the best soil quality (SQ1) was attributed to the minimum D tillage. Intercrop and relayed intortum (MDIC) and Zero tillage with D. Care of Intortum (MDNT). Strip of Maize cropped with D. Intortum therapy (MDST) has been graded as SQ2.
Author (s) Details
Professor Odunze Azubuike Chidowe
Department of Soil Science/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Asholo David Blessing
Department of Soil Science/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Ogunwole Joshua Olalekan
BOWEN University, Iwo, Ado Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Oyinlola Eunice Yetunde
Department of Soil Science/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Chinke Nkechi Mary
Department of Soil Science/Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
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